Posts Tagged Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez

Books to Knock Your Socks Off

Raise your hand if you’ve ever lost a sock in the washing machine.

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I thought so. Well, today is your lucky day. It’s National Lost Sock Memorial Day, a day in which somebody somewhere decided to give us all permission to stop the sock search.

So give up trying to find a match for your single stockings and give them a proper send-off by recycling them into sock puppets, cleaning rags, or cold drink cozies.

And if you’re still feeling like a heel for not toeing the line in the sock security department, here are some books to help you memorialize those lost sole mates:

 

51dqtB3hbqL._SX335_BO1,204,203,200_Standing For Socks by Elissa Brent Weissman

Who knew that socks could cause so many problems? Twelve-year-old Fara Ross started wearing mismatched socks so she’d stand out from the crowd—but now instead of listening to her great ideas about recycling and school fundraisers, kids only notice her socks! And since she’s running for
sixth-grade class president, Fara really needs to get the right kind of attention. If she could, she’d stop wearing socks forever, but how can she get rid of what made her popular to begin with? And what is she going to do about her best friend, Jody, who thinks Fara only cares about winning?

9781442498419The Secrets of Eastcliff–by-the-Sea: The Story of Annaliese Easterling & Throckmorton, Her Simply Remarkable Sock Monkey by Eileen Beha

Meet Throckmorton S. Monkey. He’s everything a sock monkey is supposed to be: Loving. Loyal. A very good listener. And he’s never, ever—not even once!—stopped smiling. Yet Throckmorton has been long forgotten by his keeper Annaliese Easterling, and he seems doomed to live out his days lost and lonely among other abandoned stuffed animals. But then one day Great Grand Mama Easterling sends engraved invitations to forty-nine sock monkeys to attend her ninetieth birthday along with their human keepers. Throckmorton is thrilled! The arrival of his invitation brings him back together with Annaliese. And he vows to do something so remarkable, so amazing, she will never want to be separated from him again. Indeed, over just a few days, Throckmorton will survive being buried in a blizzard. He’ll be spared from a vicious attacker. But best of all, he’ll find a way to reunite Annaliese with the one person she most longs to know. Not bad for a stuffed toy—if you’re to believe that’s all Throckmorton S. Monkey really is… “This unusual novel is old-fashioned in the best sense of the word, conveying universal truths and values through the use of sentient toys” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

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Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez

 Apolonia “Lina” Flores is a sock enthusiast, a volleyball player, a science lover, and a girl who’s just looking for answers. Even though her house is crammed full of books (her dad’s a bibliophile), she’s having trouble figuring out some very big questions, like why her dad seems to care about books more than her, why her best friend’s divorced mom is obsessed with making cascarones (hollowed eggshells filled with colorful confetti), and, most of all, why her mom died last year. Like colors in cascarones, Lina’s life is a rainbow of people, interests, and unexpected changes.

51hgkIOMARL._SX305_BO1,204,203,200_The Return of the Plant That Ate Dirty Socks by Nancy McArthur

McArthur’s series just might answer the age-old question of where all those socks went—a sock-eating plant! Brothers Michael and Norman and their parents are off on a fun-filled Florida family vacation in an RV. They have to take along their weird sock-eating plants, Stanley and Fluffy, because they act up and can’t be left at home alone. At a campground they meet a plant scientist and her kids, who start nosing around to find out more about Stanley and Fluffy, while the plants cause more funny uproars.

518gwMKBuVL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_The Escape of the Plant That Ate Dirty Socks by Nancy McArthur

Here’s another one in McArthur’s series about plant-eating socks. Michael and Norman’s weird sock-eating giant plants, Stanley and Fluffy, have learned to pull themselves around on skateboards. Now they’re on the loose, out of the house, leading the family on wild chases while the boys try to get back the baby plants sprouting from seeds all over town.

 

51BtpysblFL._SY358_BO1,204,203,200_Sock Monkeys Have Issues by Greg Stones

Sock Monkeys have issues with moths. They also have trouble with pterodactyls, home improvement projects, kittens (who tend to unravel them), and paparazzi. They really like bananas, jet packs, sock puppies, and romance, but have MAJOR issues with clowns, embarrassing relatives (King Kong), and gym socks. Through it all, they really adore one thing. Author of the breakout hit Zombies Hate Stuff, Greg Stones turns his popular, playfully absurd illustration style and subversive humor to the lovable but issue-fraught world of sock monkeys, detailing their inner lives and misadventures with a playful wit that will appeal to cheeky monkeys of all ages.

61532mb3JML._AC_SY200_Sew Cute and Collectible Sock Monkeys: For Red-Heel Sock Monkey Crafters and Collectors by Dee Lindner

In Sew Cute and Collectible Sock Monkeys, over 200 colorful photographs of cute, collectible, charming, funny, and funky sock monkeys will put readers in stitches. This craft book by award-winning photographer, Dee Lindner, known as the Sock Monkey Lady(R), highlights the humor behind the history and crafting of sock monkeys. Filled with tips and quips, Sew Cute and Collectible Sock Monkeys highlights detailed techniques to create and dress one’s own hand-made sock monkey. Fun ideas to bring your sock monkey to life come together amidst endearing sock monkey photographs of ‘action art,’ included to give inspiration to rock, sock, cut, and sew! Whether you’re creating a sock monkey to gift, collect, or sell, this clear and comprehensive book is a must have reference. So grab a pair of socks and get ready to create wonderful memories!

Dorian Cirrone has written several books for children and teens. Her middle-grade novel, The First Last Day ( June 2016, S&S/Aladdin) is available for preorder. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter as @DorianCirrone. She gives writing tips and does occasional giveaways on her blog at: http://doriancirrone.com/welcome/blog/